thecoalman - 7:48 am on Sep 3, 2012 (gmt 0)

Our base phone requires power for all the fancy features like caller ID, it has batteries but it's unknown to me why they wouldn't at least power the phone/ringer without the batteries from that bit of current on the phone line. Next time I get a base phone I'll be it doesn't need power just for incoming/outgoing calls. We don't keep batteries in it... we do have a regular old fashioned phone with rotary dial and a ringer that works fine just with the phone line.

However..... it's VOIP service which of course requires the modem and that has battery backup that lasts a few hours. We live in an area where longer power outages are frequent so we have a generator. It all becomes a moot point unless the cable goes go out. Cell phone goes dead too because we have extender that only works with the internet. :P Have to drive up the hill to get cell phone coverage.

Some of my friends now have VOIP internet phone from Comcast which is stupid because when the internet is down, how do you call them and report it?

I'd just use the cell phone after traveling up the hill to get service. Having said that I have Comcast and if there is one thing I will say positive about them is the cable is rarely out and if it does go out it's usually just for a very short time.